Washington. D.C. – Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet recently led a group of bipartisan senators in sending a letter to President Trump urging him to reverse his budget proposal to eliminate funding for the Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS), our country’s leading provider of grants that support national service and volunteerism through programs like AmeriCorps and Senior Corps.
“CNCS engages more than 300,000 national service participants at more than 50,000 locations across the country each year,” the senators wrote. “These patriotic Americans make our country a better place. They respond to natural disasters, fight the opioid epidemic, conserve our natural lands, help veterans transition to civilian life, help seniors live independently, build safe and affordable houses, and mentor vulnerable children.”
In the letter, the senators described the economic benefits gained from investing in national service and volunteerism through CNCS. A Columbia University study found that for every dollar invested in national service, there is a $3.95 return to society in terms of higher earnings and increased economic output. Additionally, unemployed individuals who volunteer are 27 percent more likely to secure employment than those who do not volunteer.
“At this time of partisan fury, national service is the way we will recover our sense of common citizenship in our democratic republic,” the senators wrote. “We urge you to ensure that in FY 2020, CNCS receives sufficient funding to best serve the American people.”
In addition to Bennet, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).
“National service opportunities make a tremendous impact on communities across America and help strengthen civic engagement. AmeriCorps programs improve school readiness, increase academic achievement and create pathways to college for young people from all socioeconomic backgrounds,” Elisa Villanueva Beard, CEO of Teach for America said. “These programs also provide a strong return on taxpayer investments and equip communities with decision-making power and human capital to address some of their most pressing needs. At a time when countless people of all ages want to serve, we should be expanding national service opportunities, rather than eliminating them.”
“Every year more than 75,000 young Americans and the 220,000 seniors come together to serve their nation through community-based nonprofits and faith-based organizations. Their patriotic service lifts up communities and helps them develop as leaders and citizens,” AnnMaura Connolly, President of Voices for National Service said. “Scaling national service would be a game changer for our communities and our country, and we’re grateful that this bipartisan group of senators are leading the way to expand the cost-effective transformative work of national service programs so that more Americans have the opportunity to serve.”
“For many decades, hundreds of United Ways across the U.S. have partnered with the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) in small towns and big cities to make America safer, smarter and healthier,” Mary Sellers, U.S. President of United Way Worldwide said. “CNCS’ investment in our effort to provide volunteers, donors and advocates with opportunities to change lives and communities through service, collaboration and impact is essential to our fight for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community.”
A copy of the letter is available HERE and below:
Dear President Trump,
We write today to respectfully request that you reverse your budget recommendation to eliminate funding for the Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS) in FY 2020.
CNCS is our country's leading provider of grants that support national service and volunteerism. Through programs like AmeriCorps and Senior Corps, CNCS engages more than 300,000 national service participants at more than 50,000 locations across the country each year. CNCS participants also recruit and manage millions of additional volunteers. Working hand in hand with thousands of nonprofit organizations—including the American Red Cross, City Year, Habitat for Humanity, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, United Way, Catholic Charities, and Teach For America—these patriotic Americans make our country a better place. They respond to natural disasters, fight the opioid epidemic, conserve our natural lands, help veterans transition to civilian life, help seniors live independently, build safe and affordable houses, and mentor vulnerable children.
Additionally, CNCS increases economic opportunity, and is a smart investment in our country’s future. A study by economists at Columbia University found that for every dollar invested in national service, there is a $3.95 return to society in terms of higher earnings, increased economic output, and other community benefits. A CNCS report found that unemployed individuals who volunteer are 27 percent more likely to secure employment than those who do not volunteer. And, since the inception of AmeriCorps in 1993, more than 1 million AmeriCorps members have used the program to develop skills that make them more employable in the 21st century workplace.
Most importantly, at this time of partisan fury, national service is the way we will recover our sense of common citizenship in our democratic republic. We should be doing everything we can to encourage the important work CNCS does. While we recognize our country’s difficult fiscal situation, eliminating CNCS is not a responsible way to reduce the national debt or deficit. We urge you to ensure that in FY 2020, CNCS receives sufficient funding to best serve the American people.
Sincerely,
